Page 105 of Holiday Hopefuls
I follow her gaze. “Proof that this whole endeavor was a good idea, after all,” I say and offer her my hand as we head to the garage in search of my car.
The drive up to the main lodge is short. Thanks to the several snowplows Aspen Point keeps on hand, we have no problem maneuvering to the main parking area and making it to the restaurant with time to spare.
Aspen Point Lodge’s restaurant is packed full of people ready to spend some quality time away from their beloved families. With bright walls, ample windows, and expensive furnishings, it’s easy to see the appeal—especially if you like spending an insane amount of money on a salad.
“Oliver! Callie!” John waves us to a table tucked back in a corner. My best friend, in his very normal attire. “Woah, nice sweaters,” he says as we drape our coats on the chairs.
Rolling my eyes, I take a seat by Joanna while Callie sits by Cici, who waves at me before wrapping her tiny arms around her teacher.
Rindy’s unwavering eyes bounce between us. “Something’s different,” she mutters. Dark eyes narrow while her slender fingers mess with the noisy golden bangles on her wrist.
Fighting the instinct to shield Callie from my friend’s shrewd gaze, I pin my colleague with a stare. “Yes, but nothing youshould say in front of the present company.” Brows raised, I nod toward Cici.
Jo turns to her wife. “I knew I liked her.”
Pretending to ignore us, Callie blushes beside me while Cici shows her a drawing.
John leans back in his chair, a smug look accompanying crossed arms. “Glad you finally decided to tell her.”
“You knew?” Rindy accuses her brother.
He snorts. “Of course I knew. He called me yesterday morning.”
That piques my love’s interest, her brows raising as she grins at me. “That’s right, you mentioned all of John’s early morning activities.” Her enchanting laugh rings through the air as she turns to my friend. “I’m so sorry he interrupted your feeding a hog and winning a Nobel Peace Prize all before seven AM.”
John waves her off. “If it got him to pull his head from where the sun doesn’t shine, then it was worth it.”
Cici pokes her head up; her eyes nearly as bright as her red Christmas dress find me immediately. “Oliver, are you and Ms. Rutherford like Aunt Rindy and Aunt Jo now?”
Callie suppresses a smile.
“I’m working on that, missy ma’am.” I grin at the little girl who is practically my niece. “But we’re on our way.”
Cici beams up at my girlfriend. “Good, because I love Ms. Rutherford.”
“Me too, Ci,” I say, leaning my elbows onto the table, “me too.” My gaze sweeps to the woman beside me, a smile tugging at my lips.
Rindy snorts. “I never thought we’d see the day Ollie fell in love.” Her joking narrowed eyes peer across the table. “Well, with anyone other than Nacho.”
Cici perks up. “I drew a picture of Nacho for you,” she tells me. That girl’s grin is infectious as she turns to Callie. “Guess what, Ms. Rutherford?—”
“Calloway Rutherford?”
Our entire table turns toward the male voice behind Callie and I.
A brunette man about Callie’s age in a white dress shirt, slacks, and navy sportcoat gives my girlfriend a look that’s a little too friendly for my liking. His small but fit frame tells me he’s never experienced hard labor a day in his life, while his tanned leathery skin reeks of too much baby oil at the beach. The man’s thin lips pull back into a sleazy smile, dull gray eyes raking over Callie’s sweater and stopping exactly where they shouldn’t.
“The Rutherfords still adhere to the worst tradition, huh?” He nods to her top.
“Hello Alexander.” Callie’s cool but polite tone tells me exactly who this is.
Reaching between us, I hold out my hand. “Dr. Oliver Rhodes. And you are?” My tight smile feels like I just sucked a lemon, but I’m not about to let this guy think he has the upper hand.
His lifeless eyes slide to me as he takes my hand. “Alexander Lawrence. How do you do?” Reclaiming his hand, Mr. Lawrence’s hungry eyes slide back to a disinterested Callie.
“Lawrence,” Jo mutters. She looks up at the newcomer. “As in one of the industry leaders of mining fossil fuels and actively conducting research on artificial duplication of renewables? Lawrence Efficiency Corporation?ThatLawrence?”
The smug prick puffs out his chest, clutching the slim lapels of his jacket. “It’s my family’s company, but I am first in the line of succession when my father retires.”
